No more dress code, traffic, or annoying co-workers – it’s easy to see why working from home is so popular! Working from home has quickly become the norm for many of us, and whether you’re a seasoned remote worker or a newbie to the WFH game, you’ll need the right equipment to keep you productive, stress-free and with your sanity in tact.
Sure, we all know the basics of a work-from-home setup – monitor, computer, keyboard, etc – but have you thought about a UPS? Many jobs involve real-time actions to be taken place and tight deadlines, leaving no room for any interruptions to your work day.
So what happens if the power goes out? Power disruptions, even temporarily, can lead to inconvenience, decreased productivity, loss of data, and business interruption. Not to mention the potential long-term damage that it does to your equipment in the long term, leading to system faults and the early replacement of expensive devices.
Fortunately, a UPS model as part of every work-from-home set up will protect you against all of this! A UPS acts as a kind of insurance policy, protecting and securing your electronics against any power disturbances. They can save on stress, damage, and your professional reputation. But what UPS best fits your personal needs?
Factors in choosing your UPS
Before you start looking into a UPS, think about how the following factors will affect your needs:
- Price
- Energy Efficiency
- Runtime
- Number of devices
- Size and weight
- Storage medium
- Connectivity
Price
Whilst price definitely needs to play a factor in choosing a UPS, it’s important to consider the price/quality tradeoff. It’s important to remember that better quality UPSs often come with extended guarantees or lifetime warranties, which may save you money in the long term.
Energy Efficiency
‘Green features’ aren’t just great for the environment, they are also beneficial for cost-conscious professionals. Power-saving outlets, high-efficiency charging systems, and automatic voltage regulators are all UPS features that can help reduce in power consumption and therefore help reduce energy bills.
Runtime
Runtime refers to the amount of time a UPS can support the devices connected to it during a power outage. Some will offer enough time to complete a safe shutdown of equipment, whereas others can keep critical equipment running for hours.
Number of devices
The number of devices connected to the UPS is also known as a ‘load’. It is important to work out how many devices you will need to be connected to determine how much battery storage capacity is needed. The number of devices connected can also affect the runtime so make sure to add up your requirements carefully!
Size and Weight
Depending on where you need your UPS will affect the type of model you’re after. Home users will probably be lacking in the space for anything too big and bulky, whereas offices may need a model that is more substantial to keep up with the devices connected.
Storage Medium
The UPS provides power through internal batteries. Nowadays there are many choices for both battery size and type. Most UPS systems contain lead-acid batteries, but lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular with lower cost and smaller footprint options.
Connectivity
Some UPS systems are now capable of monitoring a network connection and automatically cycling power to reboot a modem or router. This is great for those working from home as no one will need to go into the office to physically restart frozen devices.
A UPS buying guide
Once you’ve considered these factors and have answers to them all, you are ready to start looking for a UPS system! For additional help, check out our Guide to selecting an APC UPS.
Find the right APC UPS at Comms Express!
Here’s a brief overview of some of the APC UPS lines we have available at Comms!
Perfect for home users:
APC Back-UPS
Battery Backup & Surge Protector for Electronics and Computers
Protect your wireless networks, computers, gaming consoles, and other electronics with guaranteed power and surge protection using an APC Back-UPS. This range of UPS supplies backup during outages and unsafe fluctuations, as well as protects your equipment against damaging surges and spikes. Available in both tower or floor styles, these flexible UPS systems are ideal for both home and workplace, being adaptable to different situations.
Benefits:
- Intelligent battery management
- Battery failure notification
- Automatic self-test
- Audible alarms
- Battery and surge protected outlets
APC Back-UPS Pro
High-Performance Computer and Electronics UPS for Premium Power Protection
An upgrade to the Back-UPS model, the Back-UPS Pro provides you with guaranteed power protection for high-performance computer systems, routers/modems, external storage devices, game consoles, and other electronic devices. They will keep your equipment running during power problems by providing an abundance of battery backup, stabilizing unsafe equipment, and providing protection against surges and spikes.
Benefits:
- Customizable voltage-transfer points
- Boost and Trim Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
- Battery failure or disconnected notifications
- Cold-start capable
- Intelligent battery management
- Automatic self-test
APC Easy UPS
Power protection for unstable power conditions
Perfect for homes or small offices, the Easy UP is a versatile UPS that will provide you with the essential power protection you need, no matter how unstable the power conditions.
Benefits:
- Advanced Safety Features
- Intelligent battery management
- Battery failure notification
- Cold-start capable
- Boost Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
Perfect for businesses:
APC Smart UPS
Intelligent and efficient network power protection from entry level to scaleable runtime
Unlike traditional UPS systems, the Smart UPS will seamlessly integrate with your network. Enjoy better visibility into the health and performance of your UPS and real time battery status updates with a UPS that includes higher accessibility, enhanced performance and increased reliability.
Benefits:
- Adjustable voltage sensitivity & transfer points
- Power conditioning
- Intelligent battery management
- Boost and Trim Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
- Predictive failure and disconnected battery notifications
- Temperature-compensated battery charging
APC Smart-UPS On-Line
High density, double-conversion on-line power protection with scalable runtime
Protect your servers, voice / data networks, medical labs, and light industrial applications with the high density, true double-conversion on-line power protection that comes with a Smart-UPS On-Line system! When your business requires a runtime of hours and not minutes, a Smart-UPS On-line is your best solution. All models 5kVa and above include a Network Management Card to allow you to manage your system from anywhere.
Benefits:
- Temperature-compensated battery charging
- Automatic restart of loads after UPS shutdown
- Hot-swappable batteries
- Intelligent battery management
- Frequency and voltage regulation
- Disconnected battery & predictive failure notifications
Buy APC Smart UPS Online SRT Marine
Buy APC Smart UPS Online SRT Lithium-Ion
This is just a brief look at the APC UPS Range, if you require more Schneider Electric equipment for your business, you can check our Schneider Electric microsite for a wide range of APC products to suit your needs.
Other Schneider Electric products Available from Comms Express:
Server Racks & Accessories | NetBotz Security and Environmental Monitoring | Extended Warranty | Accessory Extended Warranty | Power Distribution Units | Uninterruptible Power Supply
If you require any further information on these or any other products that we stock here at Comms Express, please do not hesitate to contact our team who will be only too happy to help.
Until next time…
